No Hindus Need Apply

Responding to criticism of religious broadcaster Pat Robertson anti-semitic conspiracy theories (Extra!, 3-4/95), Christian Coalition spokesperson Ralph Reed declared that Robertson’s group “believed in a nation that ‘is not officially Christian, Jewish or Muslim,’ where anyone can run for office without church or synagogue attendance becoming an issue,” the New York Times reported (4/4/95). But what does Robertson himself say? “When I said during my presidential bid that I would only bring Christians and Jews into the government, I hit a firestorm,” Robertson wrote in his book The New World Order. “If anybody understood what Hindus really believe, there would be no doubt that they have no business administering government policies in a country that favors freedom and equality. . . . Can you imagine having the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as defense minister, or Mahatma Ghandi as minister of health, education and welfare?” This from someone who often accuses his critics of religious bigotry.